The King’s Consort, Choir of the King’s Choir, Robert King – The Coronation Of King George II (1727) (2001)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 100:31 mins | Scans included | 5,94 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,87 GB
Handel’s Coronation Anthems & Ceremonial Music by Purcell, Blow, Tallis, Gibbons & others
Label: Hyperion | Catalog No.: SACDA67286
“Why present just Handel’s Coronation Anthems for King George II when you can present the whole Coronation?” seems to be the proposition that underlies this two-disc set, entitled The Coronation of King George II, 1727. And, thrillingly performed by Robert King directing the King’s Consort and the Choir of the King’s Consort, there seems no good reason not to, and every good reason to, do just that. King, who has led many stirring recordings of Handel’s oratorios in his time, turns in splendid performances of the four Coronation Anthems, along with superb performances of ceremonial choral music by Tallis, Purcell, Gibbons, Blow, Farmer, and Child. But those are just the highlights of the recording, which opens with the tolling of the bells of Westminster Abbey and closes with the tolling of the bells of London and includes along the way trumpet fanfares led by the inestimable Crispian Steele-Perkins, drum processions led by Charles Fullbrook, spoken acclamations by Andrew Carwood as the Archbishop of Canterbury, and shouts of praise by the assembled multitudes. This set may not be for everyone — enemies of the monarchy need not tune in — and may not be for every day — a steady diet of fanfares and processions may be much for some listeners — but when you are in the mood to hear royalty enthroned, this set cannot be surpassed.
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